Bed construction



Sept. 19,- 1950 J. SWEETLAND BED CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 9, 1946- INVENTOR.

Sept. 19, 1950 J. SWEETLAND 2,523,076

BED CONSTRUCTION Filed July 9, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Sept. 19, 1950 E. J. SWEETLAND BED CONSTRUCTION 4 SheetsSheet 3 Filed July 9. 1946 INVEN TOR.

fl Y

p 1950 E. J. SWEETLAND 2,523,076

BED CONSTRUCTION Filed July 9, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Scot. 19,1950 7 This invention rrelates to :a bed 10f special 41011-- structi n :iand particularly to :a, bed for use in hospitals and such -other gpleces as'maygrequire a :bed capable of being raised and lowered to vpromote-theicomfort, convenience endasafety of the occupant, andtmfacilitate-the work of nurses in attendance. v

,As isvwell known; :hospital beds are built :much higher than ordinary; rhomewb'eds so that nurses ineettendanoe may were (for the patient who ocei pies thebedrwithout .thetiresemebending and steeping: thattwould Joe {necessary in, a, bed {built togtheiheightof wordinaryshomeebeds." While 1105-.

pital beds, which are =usua-11y from ,32 to 3.6 ,in

' height towthe etop oftthe amattrBSS, are an g eat convenienoeito the nursesinettendance they are i i not :only inconvenient, but, .in some cases, are

actuelly ,dang.e1 .ous.from the standpoint of the patient,=i,s ince patients lfrequently, fall fFQm'Eth-QSB hi h beds qandrexelseriously ,injured.

Furthermore, many hospital patients are distunbed Joy: the unusual height ,,of the .beds and would be much morencomfortable in ebed qtoitdi naryoheight.

'..Aside.zfmn ethemmctical1a$pects ,Of the matter; theve iswaidistincteesthetic value in ia hoepitali bed which. can be lowered to ,ordinaigyqbed height,

andthns rovidethehosp tal W h-a m w' IILQIEE .comfolttahleend homelikeeitm0.sphere.

.Qne of r the .objects of my invention .is -'to',-pr,o- 1

. 'videa bed .whichmey.heloweredatni htto.minimize the .dam ger of erious ,iniurylwhich nay be v causedhif .thekpatient falls-out of bed.

..A11Qther .objecthisio p'royidee bedforfitheiisel chimed-ids which, ,is. maintained at \hospitalebed height durin the hours when the .Qccu ant relquiresithe a ttendanceof ea nurse, end whichvcan conveniently helowered-to Ethel heightvof anprdie na y: home "bed at other atimes.

t ike-further eb ectlof my "invention is .to provide a b'ecl with power meanszof elevating and lower ing the bed, which means :is -conoeeled ebeneat-h' .the iswri ngsof:thesbedinzsuchimanner:thatrmov in ipar skere hiddenefrom view endi'a e iso'ipro teeted thatbed{clothingwiiidiothergobjb become entangled 5111 the moving parts.- I r aAnqther aobiect zosfemy invention is toiproyide:

a bed with a combination of :oamoanditoggm meansgfor a-rais'ing'rarrd:lowering Ethe upper :stnucbetweenzthe toggle members :requires fsthe tIDQaXimumvwpplicaztioriiofxiforce, theecamrarrangementfi v bein tsueh :that-rthe power diminishes and'grthe 56-.

cannot?" Ill-Claims. (Gilt-{+63% speed of toggle'emovement T'in creases asithe toggle members igradually straightene l Arfurther object :o'f myrinvention is to provide switch means'tovgovern' r the; power unit in the bed :in such-sumanner that :the switch automatical-1y cuts 01f ztheaelectricwcurrent and :thereby stops :the' motion i of "the bed automatically when the movable, pontion; ofwthe ibed reachesithe limit of travel :either in the upward korgdownward direction; makesqit possible to use "a gsmaill motomanduendersritsunneoessaryfor the operator to; standby and to shut elf .the';po.werwhen the-limit-of-travel is reaiched. i e

:Afurtherobject-is to ;provide a,-ibedof the: class deseribedvwith switch con rol means-which gautpmatioally looks in the i osition to aWhiQh the-- switch .-.thrown, Fenderemains so locked until the ;m.0Ning;par;tS .:0 the bed have reached -the limit of travel, at +which-. point ,the lock 111's pertially released automatically, bu-tin sucheamanner thatitgpermitssthe (bed-to move onlyq-in AsheI opposite direction to that which it took in the; i lestppem-tion. b i i {A fu ther w t togibr ovide mi auxiliary ,itchew ichrperm itsthemed flto the ;st0pped:;at

' ahy de's' edtihterinediatuhi ht.

,panying, an foiin vention} 1s {The vinvention possesses other advantageous eatuliegjsoniefotwhich. with lthe foregoing will 7 beset mam twi Wher e siQQfiQdiQrill dehg'th' in .the following descriprfi'irnlg of the invention has been ion in theidrawings accom- M ,a; part-iof the present specisaid d egvszinggeonetformiof the inown, butnit is toYbe understood that it ,is not l1mited1to ;sf 1 ch 'iQnm,1but. on1y by the ep d o the appended. claims.

My inve ntion will he .11ndersto od by reference o theiollowirig description of the "appended drawings, whereinFig.;1 is,,a side elevation of the'befid at fullflheight'.

Fig. '2 is fnggmehtaify V ew of a .front elevation' of "thelpjoition of atoggle Joint.

Fig. 3 shows efregmenta y View of ,a side eleva'tion oi "a, gortioni of a pairlof toggles \to Show r' the-stdpmeanswhich pl events the toggles from bending qnwerdiy-beydna af'verticallin'el In this s View the bolts 2i and attehdantpertsjwhich are :fium..-Qr saidibeld, -s0 ;a1:mnged :thakmaximum, power -;is {applied to iseid woggleswhen'zthe angle -Fig'1 6 pl vi w o 6 switch means used toicontifoli th idisifig-:QzfddGWeringcf the bed.

Fig. is a wiring diagram showing one manner of connecting the switch.

In all of the views the s rings of the bed are eliminated, as are also the customary mechanisms fofr'elevlatingportions of the springs and mattress." These appliances may be used in conjunction with my bed, but since they form no part of the present invention they have been omitted. In the drawings where fastening means, 1 such as bolts, nuts, rivets, etc., are omitted, it is to be assumed that the parts are welded or brazed together. 3

Referring in detail to Figs. numeral I indicates the mattress; 2 the head, and 3 the foot of the bed; 4 represents the frame which carries the springs (not shown) of the bed; 5 represents angle irons which form the structural side members of the bed, and support for the spring structure; and which are welded to cross members 5a to form a rectangular frame' to tie the head 2 and foot3 together. The usual conventional means (not shown) may be used in securing the head and foot to this frame.

The lower structure of the bed is supported upon a rectangular frame of structural steel comprising the longitudinal' angles 6, which are tied together by the cross members I Casters 8 of usual form are mounted at the ends of the angles 6, and these are serviceable for moving thebed, whether it is in its upper or lower posit ion, since the head and foot of the bed do not reach the floor when the bed is in its lowered position. The weight of the bed, when it is in its lowered position, is supported upon four vertical posts '9, which'extend upwardly from. the cross'angles 1 and are engaged by the cross angles ll.

Each of the legs which supportv the-bed com prises fourlinks, each of which: is united together to formianeffective toggle, and due to their peculiar construction these toggles afford the'maximum' stability for the bed, whether it is. in the upper, lower, or an intermediate position.

The upper'links l2 are pivoted at the top by the pins [3 to vertical bearing plates I3a which arewelded to they angles l I, and the lower toggle members M are similarly pivoted with pins l5 and are hinged together at the junction point between the members I2 and Why the pins IT.- The toggles are spaced apart by spacing. blocks, l6, which are held in place'by pins I1 and the nuts I8 (see Fig. 2). The spacing blocks are provided with the holes 19, which accommodate bolts 21 to form a convenient and adjustable attachment for the flexible cables 22 and 22a by means of yokes 23. and nuts 24. The cable ends are enlarged at the ends 44 to hold them in place. The upper. toggle members l2 are provided with stops 26, which prevent the angles passing the center line when the bed is raised to its uppermost position.

The coil springs 29 perform the important function of urgingthe toggles to bend outwardly when the cables 22 and 2211, are slackened'to lower the bed. Without spring means to bias the toggles outwardly they would tend to rest on 1, 2, and 3, the

Resting upon the shelf 32 is the motor 33 which is back geared to a very slow speed through worm gears encased in the housing 33. The slow speed shaft 35 of the motor is provided with pinion 36, which engages the gear 37, which in turn is keyed to the shaft 33. The shaft 38 is supported in bearings 39 carried by the plates 4!, one of which is welded to each of the angles 5. Four cams, 42, 42a, 43 and 4341, are keyed to the" shaft 38. These cams are provided with peripheral grooves to guide the cables 22 and 22a.

The general contour of the cams is best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, where it will be noted that when Y the bed is in its lowered position and ready to be dead center when the bed is in itsuppermost po-r sition and this would prevent the proper lowering of the bed when the cables'were slackened.

tion (Fig. 4). At this lowermost point the leverage exerted by the cams is very great to provide the maximum power against the toggles when maximum force is required; that is, when the toggles lie with an included angle of about 60 degrees.- As the shaft 38 continues to rotate and the toggles straighten the leverage of the cams diminishes as the load becomes lighter. The advantage of cams to perform this function rather than the use of simple cylindrical winding drums is obvious for the following reasons:

For the sake of economy in construction, it is desirable to use as small a motor as possible, and the cam and toggle principle make it possible to use a much smaller motor than would otherwise be required, because a small motor could not be used without a high degree of leverage when the included angle between the toggle t members is most acute and the force required is greatest. Therefore, if simple cylindrical winding drums were used, the drums would of necessity have to be small and the time required to raise the bed would be very much longer. The

Th e plate 32 which supports the motor is secured in position by the posts 45, which are welded to the angles 46 and 41. The plate 32 is further braced by the struts 48 which are welded to the angle 49. A .pair of plates 5 I are welded to the under side of plate 32 to form a bearing for the lever 52.

This lever performs the very important function of preventing excessive endwise movement of the upper structure of the bed with relation to the base portion when the bed is raised or lowered. Lever 52 is pivotally secured between the upright posts 53 by the pin 54, and is pivotally secured between the plates 5| by the pin 55. In the normal use of a bed the bed surface is unevenly loaded with the greater weight near the head end of the bed. This results in an uneven force on the cables 22' and 22a and this unevenness would produce prohibitive endwise movement of the upper structure were it not for the lever 52. The uprights 53 are under considerable strain when the bed isbeing raised or lowered so that they are reinforced by a'pair of angle braces 56, which are welded to the posts 53and angles 6 in the manner indicated in Fig. 5.

Up to this point it will be understood that the bed comprises an upper and lower structure pivotally supported upon four sets of toggles which serve as legs for the bed, and that the height of the bed is adjusted 'by power means 'which straightens the toggles to a perpendicular posiegsesgoae an arrangement the direction of themotor may be changed by reversing the red wires, a's will be understood from the following description." 7 I In Fig. 10 the power feed lines, which are assumed to connect with a-source of alternating current are indicated by the'numerals Ill] and i i 5, respectively. Wires'l l2 and I 13 are assumed to be the black wires leading to the running wind .ings of the motor, and wires lMand H5 are assumed to be the red wires leading to the starting windings of the motor. The switch indicated by the numeral H6 is for the purpose of'fshuttin-g off the current leading to the motorforany pufposes whatever, and is'especiallyfor usejn the event it is desired to stop the movementof the bed in any intermediate position. 'This switch is indicated by thesarne numeralon the drawing of the bed. e h j A study of the diagram of Fig.,i taken" in conjunction with Figs. 6 and '7 will make it clear that when the switch is thrown to the position shown in Fig. '7 the red wire I l connects with the black wire H3 and with the power line Ill, while the red wire l M connects with the black wire I I2 and the power line H0; when the switch is thrown toward the'left black wire H3 connects with red wire. H4 and with power line III, while black 'l, the spring action of the latch 9| permits it tobe depressed to engage pin'l2l as soon as the" pin enters the notch of the latch member. This makes contact with the motor as shown in the wiring diagram, the motor turns and thefbed" slowly raises to its full height "Whilethe bed is raising, the shaft 38 turns slowly in' cloc'kwise direction until the finger H depresses the latch member 9| to the positionshown'inFig.3,- at which point the pin [H is disengaged 'by the" latch and the bias spring 83 pulls the rocker arms to the vertical position 85a, the electrical. circuit is opened and the movement of the bed stops.- The latch 9| remains in this depressed position so long as the bed remains at its full height. As shown in Fig. 8, while the latch is thus depressed the stop 8| prevents the upright members I03 frompassing. This makes it impossible to throw the switch in the direction of the latch 9i, and produce further motion of the shaft in clockwise direction. The only direction in which the switch can now be moved is toward latch 9| a. As soon asthe switch is thrown for pin l2! to engage the latch 9Ia contacts are made on the left side of the switch, and immediately theshaft 38 begins to turn in a counter-clockwise direction, raising thev finger H to permit the spring 94 to return the latch 9| to horizontal position.

It should be noted that after the finger 1 l lifts side boards is removed The toggle construction of the legs aifords rigidity to the bed while in its uppermost position and while the cables 22 andZZa are taut.

When the bed is in its lowered position the cables are slackened to a slight extent and the weight of the bed rests upon the posts ilto .aiford sta-I bility' 'while the bed is in lowered position. The working parts of the bed are concealed and protected by the Sideboards I00, which not only;

give the bed a pleasing appearance but prevent any possibility of bedclothin from tangled with the moving parts.

In the accompanying drawings, one of. the to better illustrate the working parts of the bed.

'ilnjthe drawings the switch I IBQis shown in a locat on adjacent the switch boxf6l, but in the practical application of my inventionthis switch may be located to suit the wishes of the user of the bed, and, if desired, may be located alongside of the knob 69.

I claim: 7 r

1. A bed comprising a mattress-supporting member and a base member in parallel relation with each other; a pair of toggles adjacent the head of said bed and another pair of toggles adacent thefoot of said bed; pivotal means to connect one end of each of said toggles with said mattress-supportin member, and pivotal means to con nect the opposite ends of each of saidtogglee-w th said base member; means to limit endwise movement of said mattress-supporting mem-; her with relation to said basemember; a, ro-- tatable shaft intermediate of the headand footof said bed; motor means to rotate said shaft;

cables secured to said toggles adjacent the junc-v tion points thereof; cams fixedly secured tosaid shaft; means to secure said cables tosaid cams toiexert a pullingforcet upon said cables to.

straighten the. toggles and elevate the mattresssupporting member whenthe cams arerotated in a certain direction, and to pay out said cables and reverse the action .of said toggles to lower the mattress-supporting structure when the cams V are rotated in the opposite direction; means-to so that it cannot again be moved until finger l2 reverse the direction ofrotation of said shaft and cams.

2 A bed comprising a mattress-supporting structure; a base member adapted to sustain said mattress-supporting structure inparallel rela-:

tion with said base; togglemembers adjacent eachof the four comers of said bed and adapted to serve as legs therefor; a cam shaft; 'a' plurality of cams fixed to said shaft; motor means to drive said shaft; cables secured to said toggles adja-' cent the junction points thereof; means to se-' cure said cables to said cams to exert a pulling force upon said cables to straighten the toggles and elevate the mattress-supporting structure when the cams are rotated in a certain direction and ,to, payout said cables 'and'reverse the ac tion of said toggles to lower the mattress-sup be mi 's.

a lwna e-ma e zgszame eachof'said cams haw the opposite direction 'ing its worki rig 'surfac graduated in distance "froin the ax-is' thereof to providemaximumdeverits lowest level-, and

supportingstructureis aims? set forth in- 3 The Satan cram 2 intsaid' power means in'timed relation with the movement of saidcams, H

i. A bed "comprising" mattress supporting mea r 'is and a base member 'infparallel relation with each other; a pair of togglesadj'acent the head of saidbed and another pair of toggles adj acent the foot of said'bed; pivotal means to con- ,nectoneend of each of saidt'oggleslwith said base, and pivotal. means" to connect the opposite ends said toggles with said mattress-supporting I meansjmeans tolimitend'wisdmovement of'said mattress-supporting" means with relation'to said base member; a rotatable shaftxintermediate of the; head and footof' said bed; power means to upporting structure i'si at V, z ine. V eluding a -limit switch for co'n-t'rollihgsaid meter "jmeans actuated by movable means driven by ture isin its lowermost position, and a diminishing-leverage as -the mattress-suppcrting structure rises; switch-actuating means mounted upon a moving part of said bed t'o travel in-timed-relation with said cam to stopsaidf motor when'said mattress-supporting structure reaches a' predetermi'ned 'position. 1 I:

7. A bed comprising a base member and a mattres's-supporting structure; toggles adjacent" the ends of said bed to connectsa-id basememberand mattress support ing structure; motor" meansto actuate saidtbggle's to raise and lower the mattress' suppoi tini sweat rs; connecting means to transmit th'e pe'wer of saidmotor means to said toggles, including-a variable leverage mechanism whic'happl' leverage to said toggleswherrthe are or leverage of the-toggles is rotate said shaft; cabl'ebmeans' to connect the junctions of said toggles with; rotatable elements fixedly secured to said shaft; switch means to 5. A bed comprising a mattress-supporting structure;,a base member adapted to carry said mattress-supporting structure; a pair of toggles adjacent each end of said bed, each of said toggles having a hinged joint near one extremity thereof connected to the mattress-supporting structure and aghi'nged joint adjacent the opposite end thereof connected to the base member; an electric motor carried by said mattress-supporting structure to be raised and lowered therewith; a transverse shaft mounted in fixed relation to said mattress-supporting structure and geared to said motor; cams fixedly mounted upon said shaft; a

plurality of cables, each having one terminal fixed to one of said cams and its opposite terminal fixed to one of said toggles; each of said cams having its working surface graduated in distance from the axis thereof to impart a relatively slow rate of motion to its connected cable when the mattress-supporting structure is inits lowermost position, and a gradually increasing rate as the mattress-supporting structure rises; a switch to control said motor; a switch-actuating lever mounted to move in timed relation with said shaft to stop the action of said motor as the mattresssupporting structure approaches its limit of travel. a

6. A bed comprising a base member and a mattress-supporting structure; a plurality of toggles to connect said base member'and mattress-supporting structure; a motor to straighten the toggles to ,7 elevate, the mattress-supporting structure; means to connect said motor with said toggles including a cam to vary the leverage of power application and provide maximum leverage to said toggles when the-mattress-supporting strucagradually decreasing lee verage toisaid ogglesas' the angle of leverage-of 'the toggles increases; switch means to control the motor;'including alimitswiteh to stop said motor when said mattress-supporting structure reaches a predetermined"position 1 8. Abedcoinpris-ingf a base member anda'mattress-supporting structiire; togglesfadjacent the ends of' said bed to connect said base-"member and mattress-supporting structure; a transverse shaft disposed upon the under side of said mattresssupporting structure; a motor to drive said shaft; cable-winding means upon said shaft; a cable to connect each toggle with said cable-winding means to straighten said toggles and thereby elevate said mattress-supporting structure; a manually controlled switch to start said motor; means to lock said switch in operative position during the upward or downward travel of said mattresssupporting structure; switch-actuating means mounted to move in timed relation with said mattress-supporting structure to stop said motor when the mattress-supporting structure reaches a predetermined limit of travel.

9. A bed comprising a mattress-supporting structure; a base member adapted to carry said mattress-supporting structure; a pair of toggles v adjacent each end of said bed, a pivotal joint near one extremity of each toggle to connect the toggle to the mattress-supporting structure, and a pivotal joint adjacent the opposite end to connect the'toggle to the base member; an electric motor mounted in fixed relation to said mattress-supporting structure to be raised and lowered therewith; a transverse shaft mounted in fixed relation to said mattress-supporting structure and geared to said motor; cable-winding means mounted upon said shaft; a cable having one end fixed to each of said toggles, and the opposite end fixed to said cable-winding means to straighten said toggles when said cable-winding means is rotated in a certain direction, and to pay out said cables and reverse the action of said toggles when said cablewinding means is rotated in the opposite direction; resilient means to force the bending of said toggles during the initial stage of lowering said mattress-supporting structure; a switch to control said motor; an adjustable switch actuator mounted to move in timed relation with said cable-winding means to actuate said switch and stop the action of said motor when the mattresssupporting structure reaches a predetermined level.

10. A bed comprising a mattress-supporting" member and a base member in parallel relation with each other; a pair of toggles adjacent the head of said bed and anotherpair of toggles adjacent the foot of said bed; pivotal means to connect one end of each 'of said, toggles with said mattress-supporting member, and pivotal means to connect the opposite ends of each of said toggles withsaid base member means to limit endwise movement of said 1 mattress-supporting member with relationjo said base member; a

rotatable shaft intermediate of the head and foot of said bed; motor; means to-rotate said shaft; cables secured to said toggles adjacent the junction points thereof cable winding means r t in a cer nadi ecticn a payout said cables and reverse the action of said toggles to lower the mattress-supporting structure when the cable winding means are rotated in the oppositedirection; means to reverse the direction of rotation of said shaft and cablewinding means.

11. A bed comprising a base' member and a mattress-supporting structure; toggles adjacent the ends of said bed to connect said base memher and mattress-supporting structure; a transverseshaft disposed upon the under side of said 12 mattress-supportingstructure; a motor to drive said shaft; cable-winding means upon said shaft; 8, cable to connect each toggle with said cable winding means to straighten said toggles and thereby elevate said mattress-supporting structure; a manually controlled switch to start said motor; switch-actuating means mounted to move in timed relation with said mattress-supporting structure to stop said motor when the mattresssupporting structure reaches a predetermined limit of travel. 7

ERNEST J. SWEETLAND.

REFERENCES CITED I The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

v UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Buttikofer May 23, 1944 

